MAGGIE

US, 2014, 95 minutes, Colour.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson, Douglas M.Griffin, J.D.Evermore, Rachel Whitman Groves, Jodie Moore, Bryce Romero.
Directed by Henry Hobson.


Arnold Schwarzenegger in a zombie film? And Abigail Breslin playing a zombie?

While this is a film about the living dead, it is more of a film about family, a domestic zombie film with less emphasis on the horror. Schwarzenegger plays a family man at a time when there is plague, victims are infectious, there is a repercussions on society, destroying crops and taking any means to survive.

Abigail Breslin, playing something of an ordinary schoolgirl, has been infected and is gradually being transformed, her father trying to persuade the authorities against taking her, concealing the infection, sending his wife, Joely Richardson, and their other child away for safety.

There are some scenes when children gather together, just like an ordinary teen film, but there is another boy who has been transformed and there is a growing danger for the other children.
Maggie, realising what is happening to her, is tempted to infect her father but resists, finally going to a roof and accepting her fate.

Although it will appeal mainly to those who are interested in stories of the living dead, it is different from the usual and hence may have an appeal more widely.

1. A film of family? Of illness? Threats, death?

2. A zombie film, the living dead, the plague, the repercussions?

3. A domestic zombie film with the emphasis less on horror and more on family and relationships and coping?

4. The film as a vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger? The more serious role? The strong performance? The strong man, older, his appearance, the stubbled beard, his gait, the use of his strength, the police, a patriarch and concerned about his family?

5. The situation, the introduction, media explanations, the burning of the crops? Plague, contracted by a bite, infectious? The burning of the crops? The consequences for ordinary life, families hiding victims, the police coming to take them for quarantine and their deaths? School classes and diminishment? The medical centres? The fear of the populace?

6. Maggie, seen walking, hoodie, in the streets, the victims, the police, her being taken to the hospital, the tests? The father searching for her?

7. Wade, taking Maggie home, fatherly concern, the limits of time before her death? The death of his wife, happy memories, his marrying again, Caroline, her two children, their going to stay with their aunt, the boy and his conversation on the roof with Maggie, aware of the realities?

8. Life at home, the meals, the doctor explaining the symptoms, loss of appetite? Maggie and the bites on her arm, scratching, needing bandaging? Going to see the doctor for a progress examination, some strengths, but the doctor warning Wade, his talking of choices, going to the quarantine centre, having the medication that the quarantine had for deaths, shooting? His recommendation about shooting?

9. In the house, the jokes about the meal, Maggie cutting her finger, cutting it off, getting rid of the finger, cleaning up the contaminated blood, her going into the woods, the experience with the fox, its being caught, her insatiable hunger? With Caroline and the sense of smell, thinking her father was cooking? Caroline knowing it was time, loving Maggie, but leaving for the other children?

10. Nicky, his friends, uncles dressing, going out, the dancing, the friendship, enjoyment, the ball without infection and his talk? The infected boy? Maggie’s concern for him? Her going to his house, his locking the door, the police arriving, smashing down the door, the father with the gun, his being taken away to quarantine?

11. Wade, his encounter with the neighbours in the woods, their being zombies, the threats, his killing them both? The police, taking the wife, her confronting Wade with the gun, wanting to see her husband and daughter, going with the police?

12. Wade, the police, his fight with them, the reassurance that all was well with Maggie?

13. Maggie, her dreams and memories, knowing that she was close to death, her father taking her to see the garden of daisies, memories of her mother, her love for daisies?

14. Wade, sleep, Maggie tempted to bite him, resisting, going to the roof, standing, remembering her mother, her mother beckoning her, her falling?

15. Audience and awareness of the zombie genre, the many variations – but this one utilising some of the conventions but doing a family illness drama?